Arrangement for controlling the stacking of printed sheets in multiple color rotary printing machines

ABSTRACT

An arrangement in multiple color rotary printing machines for controlling the stacking of sheets so that they are stacked on either of one of two stacks. One stack is designated for normally processed sheets, and the other stack is designated for those sheets different from the normally processed ones. A shift register is actuated with shifting pulses from a pulse generator, and receives a signal from a sheet examining station in one stage of the register. A memory circuit is connected to this one stage of the register. The output of the memory circuit actuates, through an amplifier, a stacking mechanism so that the distribution of printed sheets is controlled between the two stacks.

United States Patent 11 1 Johne et al.

111 3,762,320 1 1 Oct. 2, 1973 1 ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTROLLING THE STACKING 0F PRINTED SHEETS IN MULTIPLE COLOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES [75] Inventors: Albrecht Johne; Karl-Heinz Forster,

both of Dresden; Klaus Schanze, Radebeul, all of Germany [73] Assignee: VEB Polygraph Leipzig, Kombinat Fur Polygraphische Maschinen Und Ausrustungen, Leipzig, Germany 22 Filed: Feb. 10, 1972 121 Appl. No.: 225,175

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 196,955, Nov. 9,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1958 Ritzerfeld et al. 271/64 8/1966 Flaherty et a1 209/74 R Primary Exami ner J. Reed Fisher Att0rneyMichael S. Striker [57] ABSTRACT An arrangement in multiple color rotary printing machines for controlling the stacking'of sheets so that they are stacked on either of one of two stacks. One stack is designated for normally processed sheets, and the other stack is designated for those sheets different from the normally processed ones. A shift register is actuated with shifting pulses from a pulse generator, and receives a signal from a sheet examining station in one stage of the register. A memory circuit is connected to this one stage of the register. The output of the memory circuit actuates, through an amplifier, a stacking mechanism so that the distribution of printed sheets-is controlled between the two'stacks.

16 Claims, Drawing Figures PAIENIEnum ems SHEET 10F 2 ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTROLLING THE STACKING OF PRINTED SHEETS IN MULTIPLE COLOR ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES The present invention is a continuation-in-part of the parent application Ser. No.: 196,955, filed Nov. 9, I971.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION For the purpose of actuating printing mechanisms of individual functional groups of printing elements, while a sheet to be printed is passed through the machine, a shift register is used with partial register stages for the purpose of assuring the proper sequence of operations to take place at the proper instant of time. The shifting input of this register is connected to a pulsing stage which provides consecutively following clock pulse signals. The information inputs of the shift register are connected to a measuring and controlling arrangement which determines the position of the sheet to be printed. The partial register stages are connected to sampling or interrogating stages for initiating the actuation of the operative and inoperative states of theindividual functional groups of the printing mechanisms or printing elements.

Printing machines are known in the art which are provided with two stacks for distributing sheets thereon. The first stack of sheets is assigned thereby to normal sheets, whereas the second stack of sheets is designated as reject sheets. The reject sheets are detected through a controlling station which, measures and determines the position of the printed sheet. This controlling station also checks the sample sheets or test sheets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to interrelate the sheet distribution control with the control system of the printing machine.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide an arrangement in the control systems for printing machines for distributing on a plurality of stacks, sheets that are of normal printing or fabrication, reject sheets which are to be stacked on a second and separate stack,

and sample or check sheets.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an arrangement of the foregoing character which may be readily fabricated and economically maintained.

The objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a shift register for the distribution process, which has partial register stages. A pulsing stage supplying consecutively following clock signals, is connected to the clock signal input of the shift register. A measuring and controlling station provides a signal dependent upon the position or condition of the printed sheet, and this signal determines the sheet distribution process. The signal determining the condition of the printed sheet is, furthermore applied to a memory circuit, by way of clock pulse controlled gates. The output of the memory circuit has its 1 output line amplified, and the resulting amplified signal is applied to an actuating element for the purpose of switching the distribution state for normal stacking or separate stacking of sheets. The clock signal input and the information input lines of the distribution shift register are connected with the clock signal input and information inputs of the shift registers used in the control system for multiple color ordary printing machines.

The clock signal and information inputs of the distribution shift register are connected, in another embodiment with the clock signal and information inputs of the shift register for the control system for multiple color rotary printing machines, by way of signal converting means.

The clock signal applied to the clock input lines of the gates, lags behind the clock signal applied to the shifting input of the distribution shift register.

An AND gate is connected between the memory circuit and the sampling or interrogating stage. This AND gate has an input leading from the output of the partial register stage of the distribution shift register which is analogous to the partial register stage of the shift register used in the control system for the printing machine. A blocking circuit or inhibiting circuit is connected to a third input of this AND gate.

A second AND gate is connected to the 0 output of the memory output. A second input of this AND gate leads from a 0 output of a control arrangement, a second inverter, a clock controlled pulse gate, a switching stage, a third inverter, a further gate and a further memory circuit. The latter has its 1 output connected to the input of the sampling or interrogating stage for switching the distribution to normal stacking or separate stacking. The control input of the last-mentioned gate is connected to the 0 output of the second memory circuit.

A second input of the second memory circuit influences the same corresponding input on the lastmentioned gate, and is applied to a still further gate which is an eighth gate. A push button type of switch is connected in circuit with this line leading to the eighth gate for continuous setting of the stacking to stacking the sheets on a separate pile or stack. The control input of this gate preceding the eighth gate or the seventh gate, is connected through a third contact of the push button type of switch to the 0 output line of the second memory circuit.

The control arrangement consists of a third memory circuit having a first input connected to a second push button type of switch which, in turn, is connected to a discharge circuit for switching to separate stacking on a one-time basis. A second input of this discharge circuit is connected to a third manually operated push button type of switch for setting to separate stacking condition for as long as the push button switch is held depressed. The 1 output line of the third memory device is connected to the resettng input of this discharge circuit, through a control input of a clock controlled gate.

The resetting input line of the second memory circuit is connected to a nineth clock controlled gate having a control input connected to the 1 output of the second memory circuit, through a contact of the manually operated push button switch. The pulse input of the second memory circuit is connected to a third push button type of switch, through a second contact thereof.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a functional schematic of the distribution control arrangement for automatic control, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an extension stage used in conjunction with the distribution control arrangement of FIG. 1, for manual controlling purposes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawing, FIG. 1 illustrates the principle of the laying out or distributing control arrangement in accordance with the present invention. A shift register 1 is provided with partial register stages 1.1 to 1.n for the purpose of determining the proper sequence and the proper instants of time for controlling the laying out or distributing of sheets on the normal stack, the reject stack, as well as the black sheets and test sheets on separate laying out or distributing stacks. The first partial register stage 1.1 has a shifting signal input 2 which is connected with a pulsing stage and two information inputs 3, 4. These information inputs receive signals applied by the outputs of two gates 5 and 6, respectively, each having an input leading to the pulsing stage. The other inputs to these gates 5 and 6 are such that one input is applied by the output of an inverter 7, whereas the other input to gate 6 is applied by an input terminal 8 for the sheet signal input. Terminal 8 constitutes the output of first means for applying to the shift registers information signals, the remainder of such first means not being illustrated herein and being per se conventional. This terminal 8 is also directly connected to the input of the inverter 7. The sheet signal input 8 is connected to the arrangement for determining a (non-illustrated) fact that a sheet is positioned of at a (non-illustrated) controlling location for measuring and controlling purposes. It is advantageous .to connect the inputs of the distributing shift register 1 with the inputs of the shift register 9. If it is found necessary to process another form of signal (instead of a l, 0 signal) and/or a clock signal which appears earlier or later, then it is possible to insert a signal converter 41 into the interconnecting line. The manner in which auxiliary shift register 9 controls operation of the printing machine is disclosed in detail in our copending application Ser. No. 196,955, mentioned above, and does not per se form part of the present invention.

The partial register stage Ln corresponds to the position of the sheet prior to the distribution onto normal and separate laying out. This partial register stage 1.n is connected to inputs ofa third and fourth gate 10 and 11, and a memory or storage circuit 12. The gates 10 and 11 also have inputs leading to a clock pulse input 13. The terminal 13 and the terminal connected to line 2 are outputs of second means for applying shifting signals to the shift registers, the remainder of such second means not being explicitly illustrated and being per se conventional.

This clock pulse input 13 for the gates 10 and 11 is connected to a pulsing stage. The clock signal applied to the input 13 corresponds in time to the clock signal appearing at the shifting input 2. The 1 output 14 of the storage or memory circuit 12 is connected to an input of a gate 18 which has, in turn, its output connected to an amplifier 15 which energizes an actuating element 16 for switching the distribution to normal or separate stacks. These components 15 and 16 are within a sampling or interrogating stage 17.

The AND gate 18 is used advantageously between the 1 output 14 of the memory circuit 12 and the interrogating stage 17 for realizing specific control tasks. The second input of the AND gate 18 is derived from the output of the partial register stage 1.n which is analogous to the partial register stage 9.n of the shift register 9. The third input of the AND gate 18 is derived from a blocking or inhibiting circuit 19, not further shown in the drawing. This inhibiting or blocking circuit 19 can consist of a simple actuating switch. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, components 10, 11, 12, 14, l9, l8 and 15 together constitute third means responsive to the signal stored in partial register stage 1.n. Components 16 and 17 form part of a stack selector the remainder of which is not illustrated and can have any of the various conventional forms known in the art.

In operation of the arrangement described above, the sheet signal or good sheet signal, or reject sheet signal, is inserted into a shift register 1,9 with the aid of the clock signal which is applied to, the shifting input 2. With every applied clock signal the sheet signal is further advanced or shifted in the register. If the sheet signal arrives in the partial register stage l.n, 9.n corresponding to the position of the sheet prior to distribution, then the sheet signal from the output of the partial register stage 1.n is inserted into the memory circuit 12, by way of the gates 10 and 11, at the instant of time that a clock signal appears at the'terminal 13. The gates 10 and 11 are connected to the pulsing stage and receive a pulse signal by way of the input terminal 13, which lies, in time after the clock signal appearing at the shifting input 3.

Corresponding to a good sheet, a 1 signal appears at the output of the partial register stage 1.n, whereas a 0 signal appears at the second output for this condition. When a reject sheet appears, the signal code is reversed.

When a good sheet prevails, the signal stage changes at the second output of the partial register stage Ln, and this causes the signal state at the memory 12 to change, through the gate 11 upon occurrence of a signal pulse at the input terminal 13. The 1 output 14 thereby carries a 0 signal, and the interrogating or sampling stage 17 does not become actuated, so that the sheet becomes stacked upon the normal pile or stack.

.When a reject sheet occurs, the first output of the first partial register stage 1.n changes signal stage, and the signal state of the memory 12 becomes again switched to the initial state, through the gate 10 upon the occurrence of a pulse signal at the input terminal 13. The 1 output then again carries a 1 signal, and the sampling or interrogating stage 17 becomes actuated so that a sheet is placed upon a separate stack.

Under normal machine operation, the variations occur, whereby no sheets are transported in the machine. In this case automatic switching to a separate stack is imposed. In order to prevent this from occurring, an AND gate 18 can be inserted between the memory 12 and the sampling or interrogating stage 13. The second input of the AND gate 18 is connected with the partial register stage 9.n, and is switched to the separate stacking situation only when in fact a sheet actually runs in the machine. The third input is connected with a blocking or inhibiting circuit 19.

When the inhibiting or blocking circuit 19 becomes actuated, the AND condition and AND gate 18 can no longer be realized, whereby actuation to the separate stacking condition is prevented.

The control arrangement described above, serves for automatically controlling the distibution. It is, however, partially desirable to stack one or more good sheets onto a separate stack at a desired instant of time, as for example, for sheet checking purposes or to change for continuous separate stacking. For such cases, the overriding arrangement of FIG. 2 is provided.

in this arrangement overriding of FIG. 2, the 0 output 31 of the memory stage 12 serves as a starting point. The extension stage of FIG. 2 consists of a second AND gate 20, a second inverter 21 and a clock controlled gate 22, the output of which is connected to a switching stage 23. The output of this switching stage 23 which is in the form of, for example, a monostable multivibrator, is connected to an inverter 24 the output of which is connected to an input of a gate 37. The output of the latter gate is connected to a second memory 25 having an output 26 designated as thel output which, in turn, is applied to a sampling'or interrogating stage 17' for shifting or switching the distribution to normal or separate stacking. The control input of the gate 37 is provided by the Ooutput of the second memory 25.

The first input of the second AND gate 20 leads to the 0 output 31 of the memory 12, whereas the second input leads to a control arrangement 27. A further inhibiting or blocking stage 28 can be applied to the third input of this AND gate.

One input to the gate 22 is connected to the pulsing stage. The clock signal at the input 35 is identical to the clock signal at the input 13.

The output of the switching stage 23 and the output of the inverter 24 can each be followed by a counter, not shown. The outputs with positive pulses can be designated for counting in one direction, whereas the pulses of negative polarity can be used to actuate the counter in the opposite direction.

The second memory device 25 has a double input 29 for continuous changing to the state of distributing on separate stacks, independent of whether a good or reject sheet is to be stacked. One of these inputs originates from a manually operated switch 30.1 which is connected to a gate 38. The outputinput of this gate 38 is connected to the pulsing input 35. Second input connected in parallel with the output from the gate 37, is derived from a gate 37.

The control arrangement 27 has a third memory device 32 with a 0 output connected to the AND gate 20.

The inputs of the third memory device 32 originate from a second manually operated switch 33 for stacking an individual sheet upon the separate stacks, and from a third manually operated switch 34.1 for stacking any desired number of sheets while the switch is held depressed. The manually operated switch 33 is connected to a discharge circuit 39.

The resetting input of the third memory device 32 is derived from the output of a clock controlled gate 36 which has an input connected to the 1 output of the third memory 32. The pulsing input of this gate 36 is connected to the pulsing input 35.

The resettng input of the second memory device 25 is connected to a gate 40. A contact 34.2 of the manually operated switch 34.1 is connected in series with an input of the gate 40 and the pulsing input 35. The other input of the gate 40 is connected, through a second contact 30.2 of the switch 30.1, with the 1 output of the second memory 25.

In operation of the preceding embodiment, a test or check sheet can be stacked in a normal manner, only when the AND condition is fulfilled at the AND gate 20. For this purpose it is necessary that the 0 output of the memory 12 carry a 1 signal. The further blocking or inhibiting circuit 28 need not be connected in circuit, thereby, and the control arrangement 27 need also not deliver a 1 signal. If this AND condition is fulfilled, the gate 22 is activated and the following clock pulse causes the switching stage 23 to switch states. The latter causes the memory 25 to switch to its other signal state, through the inverter 24 and the gate 37. Thus, as a result of this, the 1 output 26 carries a 0 signal and the sampling or interrogating stage 17' switches to separate stacking condition. Through the application of the push button switch 30.1, the switching of the second memory 25 can also be accomplished by activating the gate 38 through this push button switch and allowing the subsequent clock signal to switch the states of the memory 25. I

With this push button switch the stacking on separate stacks can be continuously maintained, independent of whether a good or reject sheet is to be stacked. To avoid the resetting of the memory 25, parallel contacts 30.2 and 30.3 of the switch 30.1 are provided within the control lines of the gates 37 and 40.

The control arrangement 27 delivers a 1 signal, when the third memory 32 is switched to the other signal state through the push button switch 33 or 34.1.

For laying or stacking an individual sheet, the second push button switch 33 is actuated. The latter switches the third memory 32, and subsequently also the second memory 25 to the other signal state, so that the condition for stacking on separate stacks results. The second push button switch 33 can, thereby, be actuated for an. unlimited time duration, since the discharge circuit 39 has available only one pulse.

The subsequent clock pulse applied to the pulsing input 35, switches thereby the third memory 32, through the gate 36, so that this memory 32 is reset to its original state.

The identical clock pulse propagates further through the gate 22, the switching stage 23, the inverter 24 and the gate 37, so that the memory 25 becomes switched. As a result, the sampling or interrogating stage 17' is switched to separate stacking condition. The subsequent clock pulse functions to reset the memory 25 into its initial position through the gate '40.

The actuation of the push button switch 33 serves to I stack only an individual sheet on the separate stack.

For the purpose of laying a desired number of sheets on the separate stack, while the switch is held depressed, the second input of the memory 32 is provided with the third push button switch 34.1. By actuating this switch, the memory 32 is switched to the other signal state, and the AND conditions for the second AND gate 20 is again fulfilled. The second contact 34.2 of the third switch 34 is thereby simultaneously opened, and the propagation of pulses from the pulse input 35 to the gate 40 is, thereby, inhibited. Thus, the subsequent clock pulse has no influence on the second memory device 25, and cannot reset this memory.

Under the preceding conditions the sheets are stacked on the separate stack, for the duration of the time that the switch is held depressed.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of control systems for multiple color printing machines, differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodidied in control systems for multiple color printing machines, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In an arrangement for controlling the operation of a multi-color rotary printing machine which prints images onto sheets passing through the printing machine and includes a stack selector operative for delivering the sheets passing through the printing machine onto one of at least two stacks, in combination, a shift register having an information signal input and a shifting signal input and comprising a plurality of consecutively connected partial register stages; first means for applying to said information signal input of said shift register an information signal indicative of whether a sheet to be stacked onto a predetermined one of said stacks is present at a predetermined location in said rotary printing machine; second means for applying shifting signals to said shifting signal input of said shift register in synchronism with the operation of the printing machine to cause said information signal to advance from one of said partial register stages to the next in succession and in synchronism with the passage through said machine of the respective sheet; and third means connected to one of said partial register stages and responsive to the signal stored in said one of said stages for controlling said stack selected in dependence upon the signal stored in said one of said partial register stages.

2. In an arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said stack selector comprises an electromagnetic actuator including an electromagnet, wherein said third means comprises an amplifier having an output connected to said electromagnet for supplying energizing current to the latter and having an input, a memory device having at least two outputs one of which is connected to said input of said amplifier and having two inputs each associated with one state of said memory device, and a pair of gates each having an output connected to a respective one of said two inputs of said memory device and each having one input connected to a respective one of the two outputs of said one of said partial register stages and each further having an other input connected to said second means for receiving shifting signals from the latter.

3. In an arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said memory device is a bistable memory device having only two stable states.

4. In an arrangement as defined in claim 2, said arrangement or controlling the operation of a multicolor rotary printing machine including an auxiliary shift register in addition to the first-mentioned shift register and having an information signal input and a shifting signal input and comprising a plurality of consecutively connected partial register stages, and wherein the information signal inputs of the two shift registers are both connected to said first means, and wherein the shifting signal inputs of the two shift registers are both connected to said second means.

5. In an arrangement as defined in claim 4, wherein said third means further includes and AND-gate having an output conencted to the input of said amplifier and having a first input connected to said one output of said memory device and having a second input connected to one output of one partial register stage of said auxiliary shift register.

6. In an arrangement as defined in claim 5, wherein said AND-gate has a third input, and wherein said third means further includes blocking means connected to said third input of said AND-gate and operative when actuated for blocking transmission of a signal by said AND-gate.

7. In an arrangement as defined in claim 2, said arrangement for controlling the operation of a multicolor rotary printing machine including an auxiiary shift register in addition to the first-mentioned shift re gister and having an information signal input and a shifting signal input and comprising a plurality of consecutively connected partial register stages; and further including means connecting together the information signal inputs of the two shift registers and connecting together the shifting signal inputs of the two registers and operative for converting the signals applied to the inputs of one of the two registers into a form suitable for application to the inputs of the other of the two registers.

8. In an arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said other input of each of said gates is connected to said second means for receiving shifting signals from the latter with a time delay relative to the application of such shifting signals to the shifting signal input of said shift register.

9. In an arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said third means further includes an AND-gate having a first input connected to the other output of said memory device and having a second input, fourth means for applying a gating signal to said second input of said AND-gate and including at least one manually operable switch for applying and removing such gating signal, an inverter having an input connected to the output of said AND-gate and having an output, a further gate having an output and having a first input connected to the output of said inverter and having a second input connected to said second means for receiving signals from the latter, a monostable multivibrator having an input connected to the output of said further gate and having an output, a further inverter having an input connected to said output of said monostable multivibrator and having an output, an additional gate having a first input connected to said output of said further inverter and having a second input and having an output, a further memory device in the form of a bistable multivibrator having two inputs and two outputs with one input connected to said output of said additional gate and with one output connected to said input of said amplifier.

10. In an arrangement as defined in claim 9, wherein said third means further includes a supplemental gate having an output connected to said one input of said further memory device and having a first input and a second input, a manually operable switch connected to said first input of said supplemental gate for applying to the latter a signal to effect repeated application of a signal to said one input of said second memory device, whereby to effect stacking of sheets onto only one of the corresponding one of said two stacks, and another manually operable switch connecting said other output of said further memory device to said second input of said additional AND-gate.

11. In an arrangement as defined in claim 9, wherein said fourth means comprises a third memory device in said duration said and the input said the form of a bistable multivibrator having first and second inputs and first and second outputs with the first output thereof connected to said second input of said AND-gate for applying said gating signal thereto and with the first input thereof connected to said manually operable switch of said fourth means, and said fourth means further including means for applying to aid switch a signal of predetermined duratio such that upon operation of said manually operable switch of said fourth means a gating signal is applied to aid second input of said AND-gate to cause transmission of a signal by the same only for the stacking of a single sheet, wherein said fourth means includes a further manually operable switch also connected to said first input of said third memory device, an an auxiliary gate having an output connected to said second input of said third memory device and having a first input connected to he second output of said third memory device and havinga second nput connected to aid second means for receiving signals from the latter.

12. In an arrangement as defined in claim 11, wherein said third means further includes another gate having an output connected to said other input of said second memory device and having a first input connected to said one output of said second memory device by means of a further respective manually operable switch and having a second input connected by means of an additional respective manually operable switch to said second means for receiving signals from the latter.

13. In an arrangement for controlling the operation of a multi-color rotary printing machine which prints images onto sheets passing through the printing machine and includes a stack selector for discharging onto either a normal stack or onto a reject stack the sheets which have passed through the printing machine, in combination, a shift register having an information signal input and a shifting signal input and comprising a plurality of consecutively connected partial register stages; first means for applying to said information signal input of said shift register an information signal indicative of whether a sheet to be stacked onto said normal stack is present at a predetermined location in said rotary printing machine; second means for applying shifting signals to said shifting signal input of said shift register in synchronism with the operation of the printing machine to cause said information signal to advance from one of said partial register stages to the next in succession and in synchronism with the passage through said machine of the respective sheet; and third means connected to one of said partial register stages and responsive to the signal stored in said one of said stages for causing said stack selector to discharge onto one of said stacks the sheet associated with the signal stored in one of said stages in dependence upon such signal.

14. In an arrangement as defined in claim 13, and further including means operable at the will of an operator for overriding said third means and causing said stack selector to discharge onto said reject stack the sheet associated with the signal stored in said one of said stages independently of the information represented by such signal, whereby to permit diverting of a properly printed sheet onto said reject stack at the will of an operator for purposes of examination of such properly printed sheet. 7

15. In an arrangement as defined in claim 13, and further including overriding means actuatable at the will of an operator for overriding said third means and causing said stack selector to discharge onto said reject stack successive sheets independently of the information represented by information signals associated with such sheets, and for as long as said overriding means remains actuated, whereby to permit diverting of properly printed sheets onto said reject stack at the will of an operator for purposes of examination of such properly printed sheets.

16. In an arrangement as defined in claim 13, and further including overriding means actuatable at the will of an operator for overriding said third means and cansing said stack selector to discharge onto said reject stack the sheet associated with the signal stored in said one of said stages at the time of actuation of said overriding means independently of the information represented by such signal and only operative for overriding said third means with respect to the one sheet associated with the signal stored in said one of said stages at the time of actuation of said overriding means. 

1. In an arrangement for controlling the operation of a multicolor rotary printing machine which prints images onto sheets passing through the printing machine and includes a stack selector operative for delivering the sheets passing through the printing machine onto one of at least two stacks, in combination, a shift register having an information signal input and a shifting signal input and comprising a plurality of consecutively connected partial register Stages; first means for applying to said information signal input of said shift register an information signal indicative of whether a sheet to be stacked onto a predetermined one of said stacks is present at a predetermined location in said rotary printing machine; second means for applying shifting signals to said shifting signal input of said shift register in synchronism with the operation of the printing machine to cause said information signal to advance from one of said partial register stages to the next in succession and in synchronism with the passage through said machine of the respective sheet; and third means connected to one of said partial register stages and responsive to the signal stored in said one of said stages for controlling said stack selected in dependence upon the signal stored in said one of said partial register stages.
 2. In an arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said stack selector comprises an electromagnetic actuator including an electromagnet, wherein said third means comprises an amplifier having an output connected to said electromagnet for supplying energizing current to the latter and having an input, a memory device having at least two outputs one of which is connected to said input of said amplifier and having two inputs each associated with one state of said memory device, and a pair of gates each having an output connected to a respective one of said two inputs of said memory device and each having one input connected to a respective one of the two outputs of said one of said partial register stages and each further having an other input connected to said second means for receiving shifting signals from the latter.
 3. In an arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said memory device is a bistable memory device having only two stable states.
 4. In an arrangement as defined in claim 2, said arrangement or controlling the operation of a multicolor rotary printing machine including an auxiliary shift register in addition to the first-mentioned shift register and having an information signal input and a shifting signal input and comprising a plurality of consecutively connected partial register stages, and wherein the information signal inputs of the two shift registers are both connected to said first means, and wherein the shifting signal inputs of the two shift registers are both connected to said second means.
 5. In an arrangement as defined in claim 4, wherein said third means further includes and AND-gate having an output conencted to the input of said amplifier and having a first input connected to said one output of said memory device and having a second input connected to one output of one partial register stage of said auxiliary shift register.
 6. In an arrangement as defined in claim 5, wherein said AND-gate has a third input, and wherein said third means further includes blocking means connected to said third input of said AND-gate and operative when actuated for blocking transmission of a signal by said AND-gate.
 7. In an arrangement as defined in claim 2, said arrangement for controlling the operation of a multi-color rotary printing machine including an auxiiary shift register in addition to the first-mentioned shift register and having an information signal input and a shifting signal input and comprising a plurality of consecutively connected partial register stages; and further including means connecting together the information signal inputs of the two shift registers and connecting together the shifting signal inputs of the two registers and operative for converting the signals applied to the inputs of one of the two registers into a form suitable for application to the inputs of the other of the two registers.
 8. In an arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said other input of each of said gates is connected to said second means for receiving shifting signals from the latter with a time delay relative to the application of such shifting signals to the shifting signal input of said shiFt register.
 9. In an arrangement as defined in claim 2, wherein said third means further includes an AND-gate having a first input connected to the other output of said memory device and having a second input, fourth means for applying a gating signal to said second input of said AND-gate and including at least one manually operable switch for applying and removing such gating signal, an inverter having an input connected to the output of said AND-gate and having an output, a further gate having an output and having a first input connected to the output of said inverter and having a second input connected to said second means for receiving signals from the latter, a monostable multivibrator having an input connected to the output of said further gate and having an output, a further inverter having an input connected to said output of said monostable multivibrator and having an output, an additional gate having a first input connected to said output of said further inverter and having a second input and having an output, a further memory device in the form of a bistable multivibrator having two inputs and two outputs with one input connected to said output of said additional gate and with one output connected to said input of said amplifier.
 10. In an arrangement as defined in claim 9, wherein said third means further includes a supplemental gate having an output connected to said one input of said further memory device and having a first input and a second input, a manually operable switch connected to said first input of said supplemental gate for applying to the latter a signal to effect repeated application of a signal to said one input of said second memory device, whereby to effect stacking of sheets onto only one of the corresponding one of said two stacks, and another manually operable switch connecting said other output of said further memory device to said second input of said additional AND-gate.
 11. In an arrangement as defined in claim 9, wherein said fourth means comprises a third memory device in said duration said and the input said the form of a bistable multivibrator having first and second inputs and first and second outputs with the first output thereof connected to said second input of said AND-gate for applying said gating signal thereto and with the first input thereof connected to said manually operable switch of said fourth means, and said fourth means further including means for applying to aid switch a signal of predetermined duratio such that upon operation of said manually operable switch of said fourth means a gating signal is applied to aid second input of said AND-gate to cause transmission of a signal by the same only for the stacking of a single sheet, wherein said fourth means includes a further manually operable switch also connected to said first input of said third memory device, an an auxiliary gate having an output connected to said second input of said third memory device and having a first input connected to he second output of said third memory device and having a second nput connected to aid second means for receiving signals from the latter.
 12. In an arrangement as defined in claim 11, wherein said third means further includes another gate having an output connected to said other input of said second memory device and having a first input connected to said one output of said second memory device by means of a further respective manually operable switch and having a second input connected by means of an additional respective manually operable switch to said second means for receiving signals from the latter.
 13. In an arrangement for controlling the operation of a multi-color rotary printing machine which prints images onto sheets passing through the printing machine and includes a stack selector for discharging onto either a normal stack or onto a reject stack the sheets which have passed through the printing machine, in combination, a shift register having an information signal input and a shiftIng signal input and comprising a plurality of consecutively connected partial register stages; first means for applying to said information signal input of said shift register an information signal indicative of whether a sheet to be stacked onto said normal stack is present at a predetermined location in said rotary printing machine; second means for applying shifting signals to said shifting signal input of said shift register in synchronism with the operation of the printing machine to cause said information signal to advance from one of said partial register stages to the next in succession and in synchronism with the passage through said machine of the respective sheet; and third means connected to one of said partial register stages and responsive to the signal stored in said one of said stages for causing said stack selector to discharge onto one of said stacks the sheet associated with the signal stored in one of said stages in dependence upon such signal.
 14. In an arrangement as defined in claim 13, and further including means operable at the will of an operator for overriding said third means and causing said stack selector to discharge onto said reject stack the sheet associated with the signal stored in said one of said stages independently of the information represented by such signal, whereby to permit diverting of a properly printed sheet onto said reject stack at the will of an operator for purposes of examination of such properly printed sheet.
 15. In an arrangement as defined in claim 13, and further including overriding means actuatable at the will of an operator for overriding said third means and causing said stack selector to discharge onto said reject stack successive sheets independently of the information represented by information signals associated with such sheets, and for as long as said overriding means remains actuated, whereby to permit diverting of properly printed sheets onto said reject stack at the will of an operator for purposes of examination of such properly printed sheets.
 16. In an arrangement as defined in claim 13, and further including overriding means actuatable at the will of an operator for overriding said third means and causing said stack selector to discharge onto said reject stack the sheet associated with the signal stored in said one of said stages at the time of actuation of said overriding means independently of the information represented by such signal and only operative for overriding said third means with respect to the one sheet associated with the signal stored in said one of said stages at the time of actuation of said overriding means. 